Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint colors that fall within the orchid hues, Pantone's 2014 color of the year, include "Henrietta" a rich pink with a hint of lilac and "Emile," a warm, soft eggplant color with pink and red undertones.

Annie Sloan

Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, recently named a new "A List" iconic brand by Britain’s influential Sunday Times newspaper, has two colors, "Henrietta" and "Emile" that fall into the ‘Radiant Orchid’ spectrum, which was named by Pantone as the 2014 color of the year.

Sloan describes "Henrietta" as a beautiful rich complex pink with a hint of lilac. Inspired by 18th century rococo pinks and the painted neoclassical ceilings of Robert Adam, it’s also a ‘quirky, boho color, good with brighter blues. "Emile" she calls a "warm, soft eggplant color with pink and red undertones."

If you want to mix your own shade, Sloan’s most recent book, Color Recipes for Painted Furniture and More (CICO Books), explains how to mix Chalk Paint colors to get the exact desired shade. Experiment with a mixture of her vibrant red, "Emperor’s Silk" and "Napoleonic Blue" to get the shade of purple you want, then lighten it to a pinkish purple with "Old White" or "Pure White." The pigments in Chalk Paint are very pure, and as there is no black included in the mix, it’s easy to obtain the shade you’re looking for.

As one of the world’s leading experts on paint and color, with more than 20 best-selling books on the subject, Sloan’s advice: “Experiment, and don’t be afraid of color. Use hot colors sparingly, however, as a little goes a long way. Just one piece painted in a vibrant shade will add character and define a room.”

For ideas and inspiration on how to use color and fabric by Chalk Paint decorative paint by Annie Sloan, see her video tutorials on You Tube.

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Cheryl Dangel Cullen is an expert in home improvement and contributes to Better Homes & Gardens' Remodel, Ideal Living and ACE HomePlace magazines. She is a columnist for Chicago's SouthtownStar and has authored 15 books on graphic/interior design.